Hawks sweep past Heat to capture KIJHL Championship
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks brought out the brooms to capture another Kootenay International Junior Hockey League title after the Kootenay Conference squad defeated the Chase Heat 5-2 Thursday night at the Art Holding Memorial Arena.
Beaver Valley wins the best-of-five KIJHL Final 3-0 and now represents the league in Creston at the Cyclone Taylor Cup April 6-9.
“An exceptional effort by an exceptional group of young men. . .. I couldn’t be prouder,” said Hawks head coach Terry Jones on his Twitter feed following the game.
The Hawks, winners of the KIJHL Championship for the seventh time in team history, scored four times in the second period to break open a close 1-1 game to end any hopes of a Heat rally.
Blake Sidoni, Dylan Kent, Tyler Ghirardosi and former Nelson Leaf Nolan Percival scored fourth unanswered goals in the second period to put the Nitehawks in complete control.
Kaden Black gave the home side a brief glimmer of hope scoring with 12 seconds remaining in the second period.
Jaxen Gemmell for the Hawks and Cody Hodges for the Heat scored in the opening period.
Beaver Valley out shot the Heat 30-22 with Tallon Kramer picking up the win in goal for the Hawks.
The Hawks finished the run to the KIJHL title with a 14-2 record. Beaver Valley opened the playoffs with sweeps of both Grand Forks Border Bruins and Nelson Leafs to capture the Murdoch Division Crown.
The Hawks were then pushed to a fifth game by Kimberley before ousting the Nitros in five games.
Beaver Valley joins host Creston Valley Thunder and Pacific Junior Hockey League Aldergrove Kodiaks as three of the four teams at the Cyclone Taylor Cup.
Victoria Cougars and Campbell River Storm are tied 2-2 in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League Final.
The KIJHL is the defending Cylcone Taylor Champs after 100 Mile House Wranglers won the title in 2016.
Beaver Valley, which won the KIJHL title most recently in 2014, has three Cyclone Taylor Cup titles in team history.
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